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  • This Week in the Champions League (Dec. 7-8)


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    ccs-54-140264006566_thumb.jpgIt's the final matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage, and while most groups are all but wrapped up, for some teams there is still a lot to play for.

    While the cream rose to the top in most cases, there was also the usual number of surprises and some ongoing stories that still need to be completed.

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    One of those unfinished stories is in Group H, where favoured Arsenal has stumbled and left the table wide open. As a result, three teams still find themselves in contention on the final day of competition.

    The reality of the situation is that Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal are battling it out for top spot in the group, with Braga still in with a shout (albeit one that requires the other two sides to falter).

    With Shakhtar hosting third place Braga and Arsenal at home versus already-eliminated Partizan, Group H should see the current first and second-placed teams advance on to the next round, but - as the Gunners have learned in recent weeks - no team should count any chickens before they've hatched.

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    Elsewhere, a couple of other groups are still undecided, at least where the second qualifiers are concerned.

    In Group D, Barcelona has easily taken top spot, leaving Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan (7 and 6 points, respectively) scrambling for the runner-up position. The final matchday sees Copenhagen hosting group bottom feeder Panathinaikos, while Rubin Kazan has to travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona.

    While Barca is already qualified, it'll still be a daunting task for the visiting Russian side, reserve FCB team or not.

    Group E is topped by Bayern Munich, with AS Roma firmly is second on nine points, and FC Basel clinging on with six. It doesn't look good for the Swiss side, who need to win at Bayern and hope that minnow CFR Cluj - long ago eliminated from contention - put the boots to a motivated Roma side.

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    The other groups have all but been decided, although some are still sorting out the positioning of the qualified teams.

    In Group A, defending champs Inter Milan and tournament darlings Tottenham Hotspur are both sitting on 10 points. Spurs travel to FC Twente while Inter visits Werder Bremen, with those results determining seeding for the next round.

    Group B has Schalke 04 on top with 10 points, while second place Lyon is only one point behind. Both teams are facing sides looking to get into the Europa League, so they will both have highly motivated opponents on the final day of group competition.

    Group C is almost all but set, with Manchester United needing only a draw from second-place Valencia at Old Trafford to top the table.

    Group F is even more straightforward, with all positions already having been decided. Chelsea first, Marseille second.

    Group G is the same, with Real Madrid and AC Milan already having locked up the first and second places. Also-rans Ajax and Auxerre are still playing for Europa spots.



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